Terriers patient over new boss

Thursday 5 April 2007 10:38 BST

Huddersfield's board of directors will not be panicked into naming their new manager following Phil Parkinson's 11th-hour U-turn.

Former Colchester and Hull boss Parkinson was set to be unveiled as Peter Jackson's replacement yesterday morning, but a late change of heart forced Huddersfield to hold their press conference without him.

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Phil Parkinson turned down the job after initially agreeing to become the Terriers manager

Chairman Ken Davy said: "Given yesterday's events we think it's now sensible for the board to pause for breath over the Easter break.

"There are no time pressures at this end.

"Gerry Murphy will continue to take charge of the first team for our Easter weekend fixtures."

Huddersfield had drawn up a shortlist of six candidates, reduced to five following former Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell's decision last week to succeed Mike Newell at Luton.

Parkinson had verbally accepted Huddersfield's offer and returned south to notify Charlton, where he had worked as Alan Pardew's assistant since January 5.

But Parkinson later insisted "nothing concrete" had been agreed with the west Yorkshire club and cited his late change of mind on a desire to continue working in the Barclays Premiership and not, as had been suggested, an improved offer from the Londoners.

Some Terriers fans will question the board's decision to announce Parkinson as their new manager when he had not actually signed anything.

Davy and his board, who cannot afford another false dawn, must now decide whether to offer the job to one of the four other candidates interviewed in the hope that he does not have an issue with being second choice.